Steve Wynn towers over the Las Vegas Strip in commercials for his new Encore resort, but the recessionary slump in business along the fabled gambling corridor could soon bring the casino mogul down to Earth.

A fire on the roof of the Monte Carlo hotel-casino forced guests and gamblers to flee and sent flaming embers raining down on the Las Vegas Strip, but firefighters quickly gained control of the blaze. No serious injuries were reported.

Gambling impresario Steve Wynn has finally delivered: His $2.7 billion Wynn Las Vegas debuted at midnight to hundreds of eager people clamoring to get the first glimpse of this city's newest attraction and its most expensive megaresort.

Can Steve Wynn do it again? The legendary casino mogul transformed Las Vegas in 1989 with the opening of the Mirage and again in 1998 with Bellagio. Now he's betting $2.7 billion that he can shake things up one more time with a casino to top them all.

It's hard to tell who's more excited about Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn's soon-to-be-opened resort: gamblers or investors. Gamblers are giddy because the place is the most expensive casino ever. Investors are giddy, too, and so far appear to be the biggest gamblers of all.

One month before Steve Wynn's Las Vegas comeback swings into high gear with the opening of his company's first luxury casino resort, the Strip mogul is already moving ahead with plans to expand his new empire.

The merger between casino giants MGM Mirage and Mandalay Resort Group cleared its final hurdle in Nevada on Thursday when the state Gaming Commission gave its blessing to the deal that would consolidate control of 11 resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.

The merger between casino giants MGM Mirage and Mandalay Resort Group cleared its final hurdle in Nevada on Thursday when the state Gaming Commission gave its blessing to the deal that would consolidate control of 11 resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.